Center For Teaching Chinese as a Second Language

Shih Hsin University

Introduction to Shih Hsin University:

Shih Hsin University was founded in 1956 by the late, famous journalist and publisher, Mr. She-Wo Cheng. Originally an institution devoting itself to training professional journalists, Shih Hsin University developed into a full-fledged university in August 1997. The university has four colleges, including the College of Journalism and Communications, the College of Management, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the School of Law. To meet the needs of people who are already working, but wish to continue their education, the university offers continuing education programs ultimately leading towards bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Shih Hsin University has also been assessed as an “Excellence in Teaching University” by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education since 2005.

Center for Teaching Chinese as a Second Language at Shih Hsin University

Introduction to the Center:

Center for Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, Shih Hsin University, was founded in November, 2014. Our immediate goal is to provide Chinese language classes for foreign students now studying at Shih Hsin University, such as exchange students from sister schools overseas. Meanwhile, we actively work to provide for our Shih Hsin graduates a new career path–teaching Chinese as a second language. More importantly, we organize a teaching team to start our Chinese Summer School which we open to all colleges worldwide welcoming them to bring their students here to our campus for intensive Chinese language training. Our model is The Middlebury College Summer Language Program in Vermont, USA, and we will offer two four-week intensive Chinese language sessions in July and August respectively each summer. Our vision therefore is making the Center for Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, Shih Hsin University, the future Middlebury in Taiwan.

Semester “Chinese Classes for Overseas Students on Campus”: these courses are held regularly during fall and spring semesters, 2 hours per week for overseas students on our campus who need Chinese language education.

Semester “Chinese Classes for Sister School Exchange Students”:these courses are held regularly during fall and spring semesters, 4 hours per week for exchange students on our campus.

Seasonal Chinese Courses：These are 10 to 12 weeks Chinese sessions, with 3 to 8 students in the class. Students take 2 hours of Chinese class per day, Monday through Friday, and in the afternoon conversation sessions up to 5 hours in total per week. Class hours are 15 hours per week and 180 hours for the entire session.

In this program, approximately 15 enrolled students are divided into 2 small classes, one at the beginning level and the other advanced level, each consisting of no more than 8 students. Students have 4 hours of class in the morning, Monday through Friday, 5 days per week. In the afternoon, each student has 20 minutes of One-to-One Conversation session with one Teaching Assistant, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday afternoons Culture class or Martial Arts training are arranged to give students diversity of activity.

◆Professional Teaching Team

We hire 2 teachers for each class, one teaches from 8 to 10 and the other from 10 to 12, respectively. Our teachers are professional and young, enthusiastic about teaching. 3 Teaching Assistants are hired to conduct One-to-One individual conver­sation sessions, each talking with 5 students, 20 minutes per student, in the afternoon, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Students’ total class hours is 85.3 hours (morning classes 80 hours + afternoon One-to-One conversation session 5.3 hours). Student Teacher Ratio (including Teaching Assistant) is 2:1.

◆Tuition and Fee (including dormitory room on campus, lunch every day for the entire session, but not including extracurricular activities on weekends): NT 50,000. For Chinese Spring School as it is during semester and campus dormitory rooms are all occupied, we need to locate off-campus housing. For this reason, tuition and fee is NT 60,000 in total.

At “Lectures on the Teaching of Chinese as a Second Language” 2015-Lecture 2, by Center Adviser Dr. Chih-ping Chou from Princeton University, USA, 8/17/2015

At “Lectures on the Teaching of Chinese as a Second Language” 2015-Lecture 2, by Center Adviser Dr. Chih-ping Chou from Princeton University, USA, 8/17/2015

At “Lectures on the Teaching of Chinese as a Second Language” 2015-Lecture 1, by Dr. Baozhang He from College of the Holy Cross, USA, 6/9/2015

At “Lectures on the Teaching of Chinese as a Second Language” 2015-Lecture 1, by Dr. Baozhang He from College of the Holy Cross, USA, 6/9/2015

At House Warming Party 3/11/2015

Charlene Chen, Center staff, on the right, Shirley Chang, Director, at the center, together with colleagues at Shih Hsin University

At House Warming Party 3/11/2015

From left to right: Professor Bein-Kuen Chen, Chair of Department of Japanese, Professor Shiao-Nan Lo, Dean of College of the Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Shirley Chang, Director, Center for Teaching Chinese as a Second Language